Trump Has Set A Judicial Confirmation Record In First Year

The Senate confirmed three judicial nominees to federal appeals courts this week, rounding out a record-setting year-long confirmation gamut.

The nominees, Leonard Grasz, Don Willett, and James Ho were appointed to the 5th and 8th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. The Senate has cleared 12 nominations to the circuit courts since President Donald Trump assumed office, a record for the modern era.

All three nominees were confirmed on narrow party-line votes, and they mark the culmination of a remarkably successful confirmation effort. Trump has secured 12 circuit court confirmations this year, as well as Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. By way of comparison, former President Barack Obama had just three circuit court confirmations during the first year of his administration — former President George W. Bush had six, and former President Bill Clinton had three.